Description

12 Criteria to Use for Mobile Application Service Provider Selection

This IDC study reveals the results of 40 in-depth telephone-based customer interviews that IDC conducted over a 12-month time frame. Throughout 2014, IDC conducted in-depth telephone interviews with 40 different organizations across the world. Rather than developing mobile applications themselves, each organization utilized a third-party services firm to develop a custom-made mobile application for their companies. Through the course of the interviews, IDC sought to gain insight into the processes used and key criteria that the organizations deemed most critical in comparing and selecting a mobile application service provider. The interviews spanned a variety of organizations across 15 industries including financial services, aerospace, insurance, automotive, healthcare, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, retail and wholesale trade, government, consumer packaged goods, high technology, professional services, utilities, and transportation (railroad, airline) across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

"The landscape for mobile application development service providers has grown increasingly crowded. The good news? Mobile application services buyers have more choices. The bad news? Mobile application services buyers have more choices," says Pete Marston, research manager, IDC's Application Development, Testing, and Management Services. "To avert service provider selection pitfalls and maximize chances for mobile application success, services buyers must evaluate providers through a combination of criteria that balances services costs and overall mobile capabilities, as well as cultural fit and values."